This is written to clarify things for your readers and K. Hayward of Mono who wrote the letter entitled "New regulations are puzzling", dated June 25, 2009.

Your readers should know that Canada Post is conducting a safety review of all 843,000 rural mailboxes across the country. In accordance with a government directive, it is our goal to maintain delivery to as many of those rural mailboxes as possible. Since 2005, Canada Post has received more than 2,300 health and safety complaints from its rural mail carriers. Canada Post is required by law to investigate every one of these complaints. HRSDC (the former Labour Canada) has handed down over 40 rulings involving rural mail safety. Over the past four years, there have been more than 115 traffic accidents involving rural mail carriers and, tragically, three have resulted in fatalities.

The landscape of Canada's rural and suburban areas is changing. Population growth and increased traffic volumes make rural mail delivery potentially hazardous for our mail carriers and other drivers. This is also why we are now conducting a safety review of all rural mailboxes for the next few years.

Certified assessors utilize a tool developed by third party experts in the areas of transportation planning, systems and safety.

Canada Post has no intention of reducing service to our rural customers. When a change is required as a result of safety issues, we meet with each customer individually to discuss their options and receive their feedback. In many cases, we are able to arrive at a solution that is amicable to everyone involved.

In a situation where customers are required or choose to be centralized into community mailboxes situated as close as possible to their homes, Canada Post will clear snow and ice during the winter months.

Canada Post looks forward to continuing to serve our customers in all rural communities across the country.

Canada Post has maintained a dedicated Customer Service line at 1-866-501-1669 for over two years and this is the first concern that has been raised that I am aware of to date. Customers may also visit our website at www.canadapost. ca/ruralmail for more information.
Scott Lewis
Communications
Canada Post Corporation